7 MSMEs named as DOST-Caraga's best implementers of MPEX program
Seven micro, small and medium enterprises in Caraga have been recognized as “best implementers” of the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Manufacturing Productivity Extension Program (MPEX).

This was announced by DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña during his weekly report on Friday, Aug. 6.
He said DOST-Caraga awarded seven out of 45 firms as best implementers of the MPEX during the virtual culmination activity held on July 21, which marked the completion of their six-month journey in the program.
“The award is given to firms which demonstrated their best efforts and capabilities to implement the consultants’ recommendations and showed substantial process and productivity improvements for the entire duration of the MPEX consultancy program,” de la Peña said.
The awardees were the following:
- Zandy’s Goodies in Agusan del Norte,
-Te Carling’s Food Products in Agusan del Sur,
-Citrus Hill Plantation in Surigao del Sur,
-Fruitful Enterprises in Surigao del Sur,
-Lisbos Cacao Trading in Surigao del Norte,
-DPI Artech Digital Printing Services in Dinagat Islands, and
-Pris Homemade Food Trading in Dinagat Islands.
“MPEX is a consultancy service which taps a pool of experts or consultants to carry out in-depth analysis of firms in areas such as plant lay-out, manufacturing process, quality assurance system, financial management system, among others,” de la Peña said.
He said since the implementation of MPEX in the Caraga in 2012, a total of 357 firms have completed the program.
The DOST said MPEX assists MSMEs in the manufacturing sector to attain higher productivity. Under the program, a field team which is composed of individual engineers and productivity experts undertakes productivity consultancy services in various firms throughout the country.
The program also seeks to develop capability to provide other forms of assistance to develop the manufacturing sectors, and provide a venue for the entries of the other DOST programs and projects particularly technology transfer activities.